slacken etymology

Etymology:

"Slacken" is derived from the Middle English word "slaken," which itself comes from the Old English word "slacian," meaning "to become weak or loose." The word is ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic root *slak-, meaning "slack" or "loose."

Meaning and Origin:

"Slacken" means to make something less tight, tense, or firm. It can also be used figuratively to mean to reduce in intensity or activity.

The word "slacken" first appeared in writing around the 12th century. In the early days, it was primarily used to refer to the loosening of sails or ropes on a ship. Over time, it came to be used more generally to refer to the loosening or weakening of anything.

Examples:

• The captain ordered the sailors to slacken the sails.
• The bonds holding the prisoner were slackened.
• The intensity of the storm slackened as it moved away.
• The pace of the race slackened as the runners approached the finish line.

slacken relate terms

• slack

  Etymology The word slack has Old English and Middle Low German roots Old English s

• languid

  Etymology Old French languede Latin languidus Proto Indo European lengʰ to be l

• slack jawed

  Etymology Slack jawed is a compound word with two parts Slack From Middle English

• slake

  Etymology Old English slacian verb to appease quench alleviate Proto Germanic s

• slack

  Etymology The word slack has Old English and Middle Low German roots Old English s

• darken

  Etymology Darken comes from the Old English word deorc meaning dark obscure or evil

• weaken

  Etymology Weaken comes from the Old English word wacian meaning to become weak or to

• remit

  Etymology The word remit originates from the Latin verb remittere which means to se

• slow

  Etymology The word slow is of Old English origin derived from the Old English word s

• relax

  Etymology The word relax is derived from the Latin word relaxare which means to lo

• remiss

  Etymology The word remiss comes from the Latin word remissus which means released

• laches

  Etymology Old French from Anglo French from Old English lahhs slow sluggish lazy

• delay

  Etymology The word delay comes from the Old French word delaier meaning to put off

• merit

  Etymology Middle English merite from Old French merite from Latin meritum neuter pa

• mitre

  Etymology The word mitre comes from the Middle French word mitre which in turn is d

• decrease

  Etymology Middle English decressen from Old French decroistre from Late Latin decr